Mike Johnson Reverses Position, Backs DHS Deal After Calling It “Joke”
Republican leaders say they’ve reached a deal framework to end the Department of Homeland Security shutdown, but the outcome is still uncertain as the House weighs its next move.
The plan immediately exposed a divide inside the GOP, with some House Republicans resisting a proposal that delays full funding for immigration enforcement.
According to Reuters and AP reporting, the agreement would fund most DHS operations now while pushing funding for ICE and Border Patrol into a later reconciliation bill. The Senate has already passed its version after weeks of stalled negotiations.
But the House has not acted, and Speaker Mike Johnson is still gauging support after previously opposing the same approach before reversing course to align with Senate leadership.
“Democrats got zero of the reforms they demanded,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune said, according to the New York Post.
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The shutdown, now nearing seven weeks, has strained airport security operations and left thousands of DHS workers without consistent pay, even as President Donald Trump authorized temporary compensation through executive action.
The structure of the deal reflects a broader pattern—splitting controversial immigration funding from must-pass agency operations to break legislative deadlocks.
What happens next depends on whether House Republicans can unify behind the plan or force another delay, with a vote expected as early as next week.
For now, the shutdown’s end is closer but not guaranteed.
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